Possible IPL 2025 KKR Retained Players List

Three-time IPL Champions and one of the most adored IPL franchises, Kolkata Knight Riders had a great 2024 conquering almost every time whenever stepped on the field. KKR won their first title in the IPL 2012 season. However, after their second title win in 2014, then things didn’t go well for them till 2023. Bringing back Gautam Gambhir as a mentor in IPL 2024, KKR decided to go ahead with Gambhir’s idea of picking up the players from the auction and the approach to the game. Finally, Gambhir’s magic ended the KKR trophy drought in IPL 2024 after a decade.

The team saw a tremendous change in the playing style and played fearless cricket. They found a new match-winner in almost every other match. The mentorship of Gambhir instilled belief in them to win the game from any position and anyone can be a hero for the team. We saw players like Gurbaz, Narine, Ramandeep, and others performing their best under his mentorship. Unfortunately, KKR will have to let go of a few players after retention. However, the management will be looking to get the core back and build a new team around them.

KKR will go into the IPL 2025 Auction with a heavy purse of INR 73 Crore after retaining these mentioned players and will bid big for some players and also try to retain their core team.

Let’s look at the Possible IPL 2025 KKR Retained Players List:

Shreyas Iyer

Captain of KKR since IPL 2024, and one of the finest middle-order batsmen in the international circuit. Shreyas Iyer repaid the faith of the management in him by playing as the situation demanded and leading the team to their third trophy. A big six-hitter against the spin bowling, Iyer likes to dominate the bowlers and instill a fear in them. Despite not being a regular member of the Indian T20 team, the management would still like to retain him at INR 18 Crore for the kind of player he is.

Shreyas Iyer scored 752 runs for KKR in two seasons, 2022 and 2024, at a healthy strike rate of about 140. Iyer can build the partnership if needed and can get going when needed. However, his struggle against the short ball continues. But his ability to accept the reality and work on it to get a solution makes him a tough lad. The management would surely retain their skipper and hope to have more trophies in their cabinet.

Andre Russell

The big Caribbean guy, and a six-hitter machine, Andre Russell has all the qualities to excel in T20 cricket. His incredible strength gives him the power to clear boundaries with ease. One of the cleanest strikers of the ball and a deadly batsman at the death over, Russell is most likely to be the second retention for KKR at INR 14 Crore. 

He was phenomenal in the last season for KKR scoring 222 runs and picking 19 wickets. The clarity of roles made him play his own game and it benefitted the team. Generally coming to bat at the death over, Andre Russell had a strike rate of 185. A proper all-rounder and one of the greats of the game. KKR would also look towards his loyalty and keep his service for the next few years.

Rinku Singh

One of the best finds of KKR and the most admirable guy. Rinku Singh will be most likely the third retention at INR 11 Crore. With the way Rinku played in 2023 and the limited opportunities in 2024, KKR won’t risk their favorite child. A nice guy whom everyone gels with and someone who keeps the environment friendly. 

In the last three seasons for KKR, Rinku Singh scored 816 runs at a strike rate of nearly 150. This shows how good a player he is at such a young age. His ability to play aggressively, remain calm during crunch moments, and finish the games makes him an ideal retention for KKR. He showcased all these qualities during the match against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2023 when he hit 5 sixes in the last over while chasing 29 runs in the last five deliveries.

Most probably he will be the face of KKR in the future and KKR will surely want to have Rinku on their side for many more years.

Harshit Rana

A fierce competitor on the field and someone who doesn’t back down from expressing his emotions on the ground. Harshit was a find for KKR in 2024 and grew tremendously under the Gambhir mentorship. Bought at INR 20 Lakh by KKR, Harshit picked 19 wickets and was a vital part of the trophy-winning side. His ability to bowl fast and accurately gave an upper edge to KKR all the time.

Harshit has all the qualities that a fast bowler generally has. He can open the bowling, bowl at the death end, and most importantly get under the skin of the batters. A typical Delhi guy having swag with cold celebrations along with an aggressive mindset is always pleasing to watch every time he bowled. KKR will retain him as an uncapped player at INR 4 Crore for the kind of performances he gave last year for the team.

Players who could be Picked through RTM by KKR management for IPL 2025:

Sunil Narine

A T20 legend and one of the most respected players across the world. Sunil Narine has the experience of playing many leagues and has achieved success in almost every place. Narine has been fabulous for KKR since he was bought in 2012. Initially started as a bowler, Narine’s potential was fully utilized by KKR and Gambhir which turned him into a match-winning all-rounder. Narine has played a vital role in the success of KKR especially in IPL 2024.

IPL 2024 was a miraculous season for Narine as he smashed almost 500 runs at a breathtaking strike rate of about 180. Being a bowler, his biggest achievement was smashing a hundred against Rajasthan in 2024. Narine’s biggest strength is his wicket-taking ability and bowling economy. Having a lot of experience in international and league cricket, Narine reads the game well and KKR will most likely retain him through an RTM card.

Venkatesh Iyer

A trusted horse of KKR, Iyer will most likely be retained by KKR using their RTM card. Venkatesh Iyer’s ability to open the innings and give a good start to the team makes him an ideal player for retention. There aren’t many Indian all-rounders who could open the innings and bowl if needed. Iyer has been a vital part of KKR since 2021 and one of the beasts especially in the knockout stages. In the short span of his IPL career, he has scored 4 fifties in the playoff games which is the 2nd highest after Suresh Raina in the history of IPL.

Iyer, playing for KKR, has scored over 1300 runs at a strike rate of nearly 140 with a highest score of 104. KKR will surely want to have him on the side and build the top order around him. In IPL 2024, he was mostly used as an Impact Player where he scored 370 runs at a strike rate of almost 160. Under Gambhir’s mentorship, Venkatesh came out as an aggressive batsman and a game-changing player. KKR management won’t let go of him and ensure his service for the next few years or more.

With such a heavy purse, the KKR management will most likely go for one or two big players and build the team around those eleven. Having a strong Indian core will give them an edge over others and will surely up the tempo in the auction likely to be held in November.